Dementia-Related Behaviors

Dementia-related behaviors can be frightening, exhausting, and hard to predict for both patients and families. Katrina Zlataric, PMHNP-BC, at KZ Psychiatric Services in Barnhart, Missouri, offers psychiatric medication management for dementia-related behaviors. Katrina uses her many years of mental health experience to evaluate symptoms, review health history, and recommend treatment that supports safety, comfort, and daily stability. Call KZ Psychiatric Services to arrange a dementia-related behavior review or schedule a consultation online today.

What are dementia-related behaviors?

Dementia-related behaviors are changes in mood, thinking, sleep, or actions that happen alongside dementia. These behaviors often develop because dementia affects the brain areas that control memory, judgment, emotions, and communication.

Some people become anxious, suspicious, restless, or easily upset. Others experience agitation, wandering, sleep disruption, or sudden personality changes. These behaviors aren’t intentional. They often signal that the person feels confused, overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or unable to explain what they need.

KZ Psychiatric Services evaluates dementia-related behaviors that interfere with safety, comfort, or quality of life. Katrina looks at the whole picture before recommending medication, because pain, infection, poor sleep, medication side effects, or changes in routine can all make symptoms worse.

What dementia-related behaviors might need psychiatric care?

Common concerns include:

• Agitation or aggression
• Anxiety or panic
• Depression or withdrawal
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Paranoia or suspiciousness
• Severe irritability
• Insomnia
• Restlessness or pacing

When these symptoms become intense or frequent, medication management may help reduce distress and improve daily functioning.

What medications help with dementia-related behaviors?

Medication for dementia-related behaviors varies depending on the person’s:

• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Age
• Medical history
• Current prescriptions

Katrina reviews these details carefully because older adults often need lower doses and close monitoring.

Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline, escitalopram, or citalopram, may help with depression, anxiety, irritability, or emotional outbursts. These medications work gradually and support a calmer mood over time.

Antipsychotic medications like quetiapine, risperidone, or olanzapine help with severe agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. These drugs require careful discussion because they carry increased risks for some older adults with dementia.

Calming medications may help with short-term sleep disruption or severe anxiety, but Katrina uses caution because some drugs can increase confusion, falls, or daytime drowsiness.

Are dementia medications different from behavior medications?

Some medications treat memory and thinking symptoms, while others target mood, agitation, sleep, or psychosis.

Drugs like donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, or memantine help some people with cognition or slow symptom progression in certain types of dementia. These medications don’t directly treat every behavior, but they may form part of a broader care plan.

Behavior-focused medications target symptoms like:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Aggression
• Hallucinations
• Sleep problems

Katrina may coordinate with primary care doctors, neurologists, caregivers, and family members when appropriate.

KZ Psychiatric Services focuses on compassionate, evidence-based medication management for dementia-related behaviors. Call the office or book an appointment online today to discuss treatment options.